UK weather: Supermarket deliveries cancelled as snow and ice hit

Potential for rail and road closures, power cuts and injuries

People walk their dogs around Silverdale Country Park in Newcastle-Under-Lyme (Getty Images)

Snow and ice warnings are in place across much of the UK as bitter weather brings hazardous conditions that have already caused supermarkets to cancel deliveries.

The Met Office issued fresh yellow warnings for rail and road closures, power cuts and injuries, and both Sainsbury’s and Tesco cancelled shopping orders as several centimetres of snow settled across parts of the UK.

Wintry showers are expected to hit Northern Ireland and northern Scotland on Wednesday, with northwest England and north Wales covered by a weather warning for ice from 6pm, the Met Office said.

Much of southern England and London is covered by a snow and ice warning from 10am on Wednesday until 6am on Thursday, while a warning for snow kicks in for much of the midlands and northeast England and eastern Scotland from 6pm until 2pm on Thursday.

Alex Burkill, a Met Office meteorologist, said any lying snow for southern counties could be “disruptive and impactful”, adding: “We could still see a few centimetres building up. These areas don’t usually see that much snow.”

The Met Office forecasts between 2-5cm of snow could lie, with up to 15cm possible in higher areas, but the extent is “very uncertain”.

Coastal areas in northern parts will see the worst of the showers, and may also get hail and thunder.

The AA warned motorists that stopping distances can be 10 times greater on icy roads, and said there were several collisions in east Lancashire as the snow fell heavily on Tuesday.

Highways England also warned motorists over snow-hit roads, but the AA said regional restrictions imposed due to Covid-19 meant roads were quieter than normal.

Ben Sheridan, of the AA, encouraged drivers to ensure they have plenty of fuel in case of delays, adding: “It’s also worth carrying winter essentials, such as warm, waterproof layers, a shovel, a torch, fully charged mobile phone and a flask of hot drink.”

Elsewhere, river levels started to recede in the south Cotswolds after rain caused homes and roads to flood.

Cotswold district council leader Joe Harris called on Thames Water to provide more support and clear raw sewage that had mixed with floodwater.

He said: “We have witnessed carers arriving to provide essential personal care to elderly and vulnerable residents and being forced to wade through sewage-contaminated floodwater.”

The bitterly cold conditions are forecast to continue throughout Thursday and into the new year.

Clare Nasir, a Met Office forecaster, said: “2021 starts how 2020 ended, on a very cold note with the risk of wintry showers and widespread frosts.”

Additional reporting by Press Association